Balloon vending machine



I United States Patent 1 3,536,110

[72] Inventor Dennis Elmer West 3,380,490 4/1968 Ellenberg et al.141/167 Dover Pennsylvania Primary ExaminerLaverne D. Gei er [21] P746l68 Assistant ExaminerEdward J. Earl: [22] July 1968 AttmeyAlbert C.Johnston, Robert E. lsner, Lewis H. f 1970 Eslinger and AlvinSinderbrand [73] Asslgnee By mesne assignments to Miner Industries,Inc., a corporation of Delaware ABSTRACT: In a machine for vendinginflated balloons, uninflated balloons have their necks, which containcheck valves, frictionally retained in spaced openings of a flexibleconveying [54] BALLOON VENDING MACHINE belt guided in a path extendingpast an inflating station, an in- 15 Claims 9 Drawing Figs flatmg nozzleis moved parallel to such path, while engaged with the valve of aballoon, to the inflating statlon from a rest [52] US. Cl 141/137,station in advance h f by a distance equal to the spacing 141/173,141/313 between belt openings, whereby to impart an indexing move- [51]int. Cl Bb 43/12 mem to the belt f moving a balloon to the i fl tiStation, [50] Field of Search 46/87, gas under pressure for inflating aballoon is Supplied to the 141/4, 129, 135, 137, 154, 168, nozzle whilethe latter is in engagement with the valve ofa bal- 314; 21/74 79 loonat the inflating station, the nozzle is retracted out of en- ReferencesCited gagement with the valve of the inflated balloon and returned tothe rest station for engagement with the balloon valve next UNITEDSTATES PATENTS in line on the belt, and the inflated balloon isseparated from 1,223,293 4/l9l7 Rose 14l/l37 the belt, preferably by anejecting member which is mounted 2,999,5 l 7 9/196] Cervinka 141/1 37for movement as a unit with the inflating nozzle.

Patented Oct. 27, 1970 v 3,536,110

Sheet 1 of 4 Jig. 1.

- INVENTOR. DENNIS 5. WEST Patented Oct. 27, 1970 3,536,110

Sheet 2 of4 A TTOANEY- Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet INVENTOR. DENNIS 5.W557 a i l 3 {HHIH 2 w a x 6 7 3 f W P rl w w d y 3 M I j 0 4 4- ,4 x 5M. y 3 M TTO/PNE Y Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 1: of 4 .ATTORNEXBALLOON VENDING MACHINE This invention relates generally to balloonvending machines, and is particularly directed to improvements inmachines for vending inflated balloons from a flexible conveying belthaving spaced openings to receive and frictionally retain the necks ofuninflated balloons.

In previously proposed balloon vending machines of the above describedtype, for example, as disclosed in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,380,490having a common assignee herewith, the belt is intermittently advancedor indexed, as by a drive wheel having projecting pins engageable inopenings of the belt and being rotated in a step-by-step manner by aGeneva mechanism or the like, so as to register each balloon, insuccession, with a nonle located at an inflating station. During eachinterval between advancements of the belt, the nozzle is moved towardthe belt to engage a check valve in the neck of the balloon thenregistered therewith and gas under pressure is supplied to the nozzlefor passage through the engaged valve so as to inflate the relatedballoon. When the balloon has been thus inflated, the nozzle hasimparted thereto a further movement toward the belt so as to act againstthe engaged valve for separating or ejecting the latter and its relatedballoon in inflated condition from the belt. After such ejection of theinflated balloon, the nozzle is retracted or moved away from the belt soas to permit a subsequent indexing movement for registering the nextballoon carried by the belt with respect to the nozzle at the inflatingstation.

The foregoing arrangement of the previously proposed balloon vendingmachine has certain disadvantages among which are the relatively highcost and complexity of the mechanisms provided for effecting and timingthe indexing or intermittent advancements of the belt and the movementsof the nozzle for the balloon inflating and ejecting phases ofoperation, and the difficulty of achieving accurate registration of eachballoon valve with the nozzle at the inflating station by reason of thefact that the drive wheel for indexing the belt engages the belt at asubstantial distance along the belt from the balloon to be registered.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedmachine for vending inflated balloons from a flexible conveying belthaving the necks of uninflated balloons frictionally retained in spacedopenings in the belt, and which avoids the above mentioned disadvantagesof machines previously proposed for that purpose.

A specific object is to provide a machine of the described character inwhich relatively inexpensive, simple, reliable and easily maintainedarrangements are employed for controlling and effecting the variousmovements and operations that need to be performed in connection withthe vending of the inflated balloons.

A further object is to effect the indexing of the balloon conveying beltin a manner to ensure the accurate registration of each balloon, insuccession, with the nozzle through which gas for inflating the balloonis supplied.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the nozzle, through whichgas is to be supplied for inflating a balloon at an inflating station,is moved parallel to the belt while engaged with the check valve of aballoon so as to displace such balloon to the inflating station from arest station in advance thereof by a distance equal to the spacingbetween adjacent belt openings, whereby to impart an indexing movementto the belt, and following the inflation of a balloon at the inflatingstation, the nozzle is retracted out of engagement with the valve of theinflated balloon and returned to the rest station for engagement withthe valve of the balloon next in line in the belt.

It is a feature of this invention to provide a machine as describedabove with an ejecting member which is mounted for movement as a unitwith the nozzle and spaced from the latter so as to extend through thebelt opening at the inflating station when the nozzle is engaged withthe valve of a balloon at the rest station, whereby to automaticallyseparate or eject the inflated balloon from the belt. Thus, all of themovements necessary for the indexing, inflating and ejecting operationsof the machine according to this invention may be conveniently effectedby readily controlled first and second compressed air or other fluidpressure actuated cylinders arranged to move the nozzle and ejectingmember as a unit in directions parallel to the path of travel of theballoon conveying belt and in directions toward and away from such path,respectively.

Another feature of the machine according to this invention is theprovision of a device therein for severing the belt into readilydisposable sections following the separation of the balloons therefromso that such sections can be collected compactly in a receptacle withinthe vending machine cabinet.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the path alongwhich the balloon conveying belt is indexed extends across the top wallof a compartment opening at the front of the machine cabinet and havingan aperture in such top wall through which successive balloons conveyedto the inflating station can depend from the belt for inflation withinthe compartment, and there is provided a door normally closing asubstantial part of the aperture to prevent pilfering therethrough of aballoon carried by the belt in advance of the inflating station, whichdoor is opened automatically upon the movement of the nozzle forindexing the belt.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a balloon vending machineembodying this invention shown with the front wall of its cabinetsubstantially broken away to expose the com ponents of the machinewithin such cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view, partly broken away and insection, of the mechanism in the machine of FIG. 1 by which a beltcarrying the successive balloons is given an indexing movement, thesuccessive balloons are inflated, each inflated balloon is separatedfrom the belt, and the belt from which balloons have been removed is cutinto easily disposable sections;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing the mechanism inanother position;

FIG. 4 is a detail, horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4on FIG. 3 to show the means by which a door or closure for preventingpilfering of balloons is moved between its opened and closed positions;

FIG. 5 is a detail, vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 onFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the mechanism shown on FIG. 2 asviewed from the right-hand side of the latter;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a pneumatic operating system for themachine embodying this invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of an electrical control system forthe balloon vending machine; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view, partly in axial section, of a check valvesuitable for use in balloons to be vended or dispensed by the machineembodying this invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, itwill be seen that a balloon vending machine embodying this invention andthere generally identified by the reference numeral 10 comprises anupright cabinet 11 having a front wall 12 which is removable or hingedlymounted to constitute a door for providing access to the interior of thecabinet. Extending rearwardly from front. wall 12, approximately at thecenter of the latter, is a box-like compartment 13 which is open at thefront through an opening in wall 12 so as to permit the removal fromcompartment 13 of successive balloons inflated within the latter.

A storage receptacle 14, for example, in the form of an upwardly openbox, is contained in cabinet 11 below compartment 13 to hold a supply ofthe balloons to be vended or dispensed. As shown particularly on FIG. 9,each balloon B has the usual neck N with a thickened bead or rim Rextending around its mouth, and a check valve assembly V is secured intherethrough only in the direction for inflating the balloon. The valveassembly Y may be generally of the type disclosed in US. Pat.application Ser. No. 617,595 flied Feb; 2 l i967,- by Donald D. Litt andDavid B. Jaroff, and having a common assignee herewith;

the mouth. of the balloon to permit the passage of gas 1 As shown onFIG. 9, a valve'assembly of the described I may, consist of a generallycylindricalbody l5" molded or otherwise formed'of asuitable plasticmaterialjand having an axial borel6 which opens only at the upperorouter end of the valve body. Radial passages 17 extend from bore l6-toopenings at the outersurface of valve body adjacent the closed end 18 ofthe latter. Annular series oflexternal flange sections 19 and 20 aredirected radially outward on body 15 intermediate radial passages 17 andthe open end of the valve body. The flange sections 19 areaxiallyspacedfrom flange sections 20 and may be circumferentially staggeredwith respect to the latter, as shown, and the outerisurfaceof valve body14is diametrically dimensioned so as to be-substantially seal theopenings at the outer ends of radial passages 17.

,l-lowever, when gases under pressure are supplied to bore 16 throughthe open end of the latter, as hereinafter described the'gases underpressure into the balloon forinflating the latter'rWhen the supplying ofgases under pressure to bore 16' is halted, balloon neck N returns toits normal position seated tightly against the, outer surface of thevalve body and thus seals the openings of radial passages l7 forretaining the inflating gases within the balloon. 7

Further, as shown, the upper oropen end of valve body 15 may be formedwith diametrically, opposed ears 21a and 21b directed outwardly and'thendownwardly with respect to the gatedyflexible belt or web 23 formed of aplastic or other suitable material and having openings 24 (FIG. 2) thatare uniformlyspaced apart along thebelt and each dimensioned toreceiveand frictionally retain the neckof a balloon B provided with avalve assembly V,-as.described above. The belt 23 with balloons Bsuspended therefromis laid in folds or otherwise stored in receptacle I4and is drawn'upwardly from such storage receptacle and fed along a guide25 that is mounted, as

hereinafter described, to extendlaterally across the top wall 26 ofcompartment 13 when frontwall l2of cabinet 11 is in its .closedposition.Guide 25 has a downwardly curving entry portion 27 (FIGS. 1 and 2) andincludestwo spaced apart, parallel channel members 28aand28b-(FlG. 5)opening toward each other so as to slidably receive thelongitudinal edgeportions of belt 23withthe necks of the successive balloons held inopenings 24 of belt 23 being accommodated in the slot 29 that extendscentrally along guide 25 and]isdeflned between 1 channel members28aand28b. 1,

v 30v in. detail, the gases under pressure act radially outward,

. through passages 17 to deflect balloon neck N away from the outersurface of valve body ,l5 and thereby permit the flow of a valve bodyand eachhaving atooth-like projection atits free h 7 end directedinwardly toward theouter' surface of the valve 3 1 body. The valveassembly V, as showmincludes an elongated flexible element 22 secured atone end to valve body 15, as at theear 21b thereon, to provide means bywhich theballoon B. after its inflation, may be conveniently held. Theflexibleelement22 may be "constituted by a length-of string or the like1 having one end portion which is knotted and snapped past the h As isapparent on FIGS, 2 and 3, belt 23is arranged in guide 25 so that, inthe portion of the beltextending along the guide across top wall 26 ofcompartment 13, the balloons carried by the belt are suspended fromthe'latter to successively depend from the belt into compartment 13through an opening 30 in top wall 26 of t the latter whenthe beltopening 24 receiving a balloon is moved to an inflating station 5,, andfurther so that, g in the portionbf the belt extendingacross top wall26, the

valve assembliesV of the balloons will project upwardly from belt 23through slot 29 of guide 25. t

In accordance with this invention, a nozzle 31 is mounted gforlrnovementparallel to the path of travel of belt 23 determined by 'guideZSthroughan indexing stroke bywhich nozzle 31 is moved to inflating station 5,(FIG. 3) from a rest station S,(FlG.2) which is in advance of theinflating station by substantially thedistance between adjacentopenings24 in belt 23 and-througha return stroke bywhich nozzle 31 isreturned to rest stations and also for movement of nozzle 31 indirections toward and away from the belt path, that is, vertically,between active and retracted positions at which the nozz'le isengageable with the valvejV of a balloon B retained in an opening of thebelt (H6; 2 and the" nozzle is substantially.

spaced from the belt FIG. 3), respectively.

In order to-mount nozzle 31 for the foregoing movements thereof, theillustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a frame32havingllaterally spaced brackets 33 and 34 7 (FIGS. 2 and'3) projectingforwardly from back wall 35 of tooth-likeprojection at the free end ofear 21b, whereupon the r knot prevents axial withdrawal of the securedend of flexible element 22 from=ear.2lb. u, Further, after insertion ofthe secured end-of flexible element 22, under ear 21b, the; latter maybeheat-sealed'or welded against the adjacent outer surface'of valve'body15, as shown. The element 22 is preferably constituted by a length ofnylon or other thermoplastic thread I 7 or filamentsothat, in place ofthe abovementioned knot, an enlargement can be formed at the secured endof element 22 by heat applied to sever the filament into suitablelengths or by heatapplied'after the filament is'cut or severed. Theelongated flexible element 22 secured at'one endto valvebody 15 is woundon valvebody ls between flange sections 19 andthe open end; of the valvebody andhas; its other or freeend suitably anchoredso asjto preventinadvertent unwinding of. flexible element 22 until the associatedballoon hasbeen dispensedor vendedi Securing of the free end of element22 1 wound on 'valv'e body 15 may be efi'ected by merely engaging suchfree end of element 22 under ear 21a, as shown, or. by the 7 applicationof a suitable adhesive for temporarilyadhering the free end of element22to the turns thereof on valve body 15.

The, balloons B to be vended or dispensed bythe machine.

10 embodying this invention are releasably carried by an elon-,

cabinet 11 (FIG. 5), and between which there are secured parallel,spacedapart front and back frame members 360 and f 36b'having channelmembers 28a1and28b of guide 25 respec- ,50-

tively secured to, and supported from their'lower flanged edges. Acarriage 37, which maybe of inverted U-shaped cross section so as toopen'downwardly,is' mounted between frame members 364 and 36b forlateralsliding movement relative thereto, for example, by slidableengagement of flanges 38a and 38b at the front and back of carriage 37in grooved guide members 39a and 39b'suitably supported at theconfronting sides of frame members 360 and 36b. in order to reduce thefrictional resistance to, slidingmovement of carriage 37, grooved guides39a and 39b maybe formed of simply by heating the end of thethermoplastic filament either 'polyt'etrafluoroethylene or any othermaterial having a low coefficient of friction.

Mounted vertically on top c'arriage,37 is an actuating cylinder 40having a piston 41 vertically reciprocable therein (FIG. 2); and apiston rod 42 extending downwardly from jusmble attachment, as b M543,to the center of a support 6 piston 41.to project from the lower end ofcylinder 40 for adyoke 44 which is movable vertically within carriage37. Noule 31is suspended beneathsupportyoke 44 adjacent one end of .thelatter, as bya'nut 45 threaded ona stem 46 which projects upwardly fromnozzle 31 and passesfreely through an opening 47 in the top of carriage37 (FIG.,2). Inorder to prevent turning of support yoke 44 about thelongitudinal axis, of piston rod 42, flanges 44d and 44b directedupwardly at the front and, back of the support yoke maybe slidablyengageable with the adjacent inner surfaces of carriage 37'( FIG. 5).

It will be apparent from the above that vertical movements of supportyoke 44 with piston rod 42 relative to carriage 37 will effect movementof nozzle 31 vertically toward and away from the path of travel of belt23 along guide 25 extending across the top 26 of compartment 13, andthat lateral movements of carriage 37 relative to frame members 36a and36b will effect movements of nozzle 31 parallel to such path of thebelt.

The movement of nozzle 31 to its active position for engagement with thevalve of a balloon retained in an opening of belt 23 may be effected bya spring 48 (FIG. 2) urging support yoke 44 in the downward direction,for example, by being disposed in cylinder 40 so as to act downwardly onpiston 41 therein, and the upward movement of nozzle 31 to its retractedposition away from belt 23 (FIG. 3) may be effected by supplying fluidunder pressure, preferably compressed air, to the lower end of cylinder40, as through a flexible conduit 49, so that such fluid under pressureacts upwardly on piston 41 to overcome the force of spring 48.

In order to efiect movement of nozzle 31 parallel to the path of belt23, there is provided a cylinder 50 mounted horizontally at the outerside of bracket 33 and having a piston 51 (FIG. 2) reciprocable thereinwith a piston rod 52 extending from piston 51 out of cylinder 50 andbeing adjustably connected adjacent its free end, as by nuts 53, to across piece 54 spanning the adjacent end of carriage 37. Movement ofnozzle 31 through its indexing stroke from rest station 8, to inflatingstation S, is effected by supplying fluid under pressure, preferablycompressed air, to the left-hand end of cylinder 50, as viewed on FIG.2, as through a flexible conduit 55 so that the compressed air actswithin cylinder 50 against piston 51 to extend piston rod 52 from thecylinder and thereby effect lateral displacement of carriage 37 towardthe right from the position shown on FIG. 2 to the position shown on HO.3. The return stroke of nozzle 31 by which the latter is returned frominflating station 8, to rest station S- may be efiected by a spring 56,which in the embodiment shown is disposed within cylinder 50 to act onpiston 51 for urging the latter to the position shown on FIG. 2. Ifdesired, stops 57 and 58 may be mounted on frame member 36b at spacedapart locations therealong so as to be alternately engageable bycarriage 37 for respectively locating nozzle 31 at inflating station S,and at rest station 5,.

In accordance with this invention, the described movements of nozzle 31are controlled, as hereinafter described in detail, so as to effect theindexing stroke of the nozzle with the latter in its active position,that is, with nozzle 31 engaging the valve V of a balloon B carried bybelt 23, whereby belt 23 is carried along in an indexing movement bywhich the balloon having its valve engaged by nozzle 31 is moved fromrest station S, to inflating station 8,, and, after a period of dwell ofnozzle 31 at inflating station S, during which period the balloon havingits valve engaged by the nozzle is inflated, the return stroke of nozzle31 from the inflating station to the rest station is effected with thenozzle in its retracted or raised position (FIG. 3), so as to avoidengagement with the valves of balloons suspended from the belt,whereupon the nozzle 31 is restored to its active position forengagement with the valve of the balloon then at the rest station (FIG.2). Thus, nozzle 31 performs the dual functions of effecting theindexing movement of belt 23 for bringing the foremost balloon suspendedfrom the belt to the inflating station S, during each indexing stroke ofthe nozzle, and of engaging the valve of each balloon, when at theinflating station, for supplying the gases thereto by which the balloonis inflated.

Further, a balloon vending machine according to this invention isprovided with means operative upon return of nozzle 31 to rest station S(FIG. 2) to effect separation from belt 23 of the previously inflatedballoon at inflating station 8,. In the embodiment shown, such means foreffecting separation of the previously inflated balloon from the beltincludes an ejecting member 59 adjustably suspended from support yoke 44adjacent the end of the latter remote from nozzle 31, as by a threadedstem 60 engaged by nuts 61, and being spaced from nozzle 31 in thedirection of the indexing movement of belt 23 by a distance equal to thespacing between adjacent belt openings 24. Thus, when nozzle 31 isreturned to rest station 5,, ejecting member 59 is disposed at inflatingstation S, (F IG. 2). As is shown, ejecting member 59 is verticallydisposed lower than nozzle 31 so that, when nozzle 31 is moveddownwardly to its active position for engagement with the valve V of aballoon B at rest station 8,, ejecting member 59 is moved downwardly toproject through the belt opening at inflating station S, and thus actsdownwardly on the valve V of the previously inflated balloon B to ejectthe latter from the related belt opening. Since ejecting member 59 isconnected through support yoke 44 with nozzle 31 to move as a unit withthe latter, it will be apparent that, during the indexing stroke ofnozzle 31 with the latter in its active position, ejecting member 59will continue to project through an opening 24 of belt 23 and hence willassist in effecting the indexing movement of the belt. Of course, whennozzle 31 is displaced upwardly to its retracted position (FIG. 3),ejecting member 59 is similarly displaced upwardly away from belt 23(FIG. 3), whereby to clear the top of the valve of the balloon at theinflating station upon the return stroke of nozzle 31 to rest station SReferring now to FIG. 7, it will be seen that a pneumatic system foreffecting the movements of nozzle 31 and ejecting member 59 in machine10 may comprise a motor operated air compressor 62 having its outletconnected to a compressed air tank or air pressure accumulator 63 fromwhich there extends a compressed air supply line 64 having branches 65,66 and 67 extending therefrom to inlet ports of solenoid valves SV,, SVand SV,, respectively, As shown, solenoid valve SV, is connected throughconduit 55, having a metering or throttling valve TV, interposedtherein, with cylinder 50 so that, when solenoid valve SV, is energized,as hereinafter described, compressed air is supplied from branch 65through conduit 55 to cylinder 50 to effect the indexing stroke ofnozzle 31 and the corresponding movement of ejecting member 59 at aspeed determined by throttling valve TV,. Conversely, when solenoidvalve SV, is deenergized, such valve connects conduit 55 with an exhaustport 68 opening to the atmosphere so that spring 56 can then effect thereturn stroke of nozzle 31 and the corresponding movement of ejectingmember 59. Solenoid valve SV, is shown to be connected with cylinder 40through conduit 49 having a metering or throttling valve TV: interposedtherein and is effective, when energized, to supply compressed air frombranch 66 through conduit 49 to cylinder 40 for displacing nozzle 31 toits retracted position and effecting the corresponding movement ofejecting member 59 at a speed determined by throttling valve TV,Conversely, when solenoid valve SV, is deenergized, conduit 49 isconnected through such valve to an exhaust port 69 opening to theatmosphere so as to permit spring 48 to effect movement of nozzle 31 toits active position and the corresponding movement of ejecting member 59for projection through an opening of belt 23.

The gases for inflating each of the successive balloons at inflatingstation S, are comprised of compressed air and helium under pressuresupplied to a flexible conduit 70 which is connected with stem 46 ofnozzle 31 and may have a metering or throttling valve TV, interposedtherein for controlling the rate at which such gases are supplied to thenozzle for inflating a balloon having its valve engaged thereby. Thesupplying of compressed air for inflating a balloon is controlled bysolenoid valve SV which, when energized, permits compressed air to passfrom branch 67 through a conduit 71 and a check valve 72 to a Tee 73connected with conduit 70, while the supplying of helium is under thecontrol of a solenoid valve SV,, which, when energized, permits heliumunder pressure to flow through a conduit 74 from a bottle 75 or othercontainer of the helium under pressure to Tee 73 by way of a check valve76.

Referring now to FIG. 8, it will be seen that electrical circuits forcontrolling the energization of the several solenoid predetermined shortperiod, for example, 50 milliseconds.

The illustrated circuits are further shown to include a relay R,

e .8, causesclosing of its contact RC which is connected in series withthe motorM, of air compressor 62, whereby to operate such air compressorduring the entire vending cycle. it will having normally open contactsRC, and contacts RC,',,nor{

mally closing contact b', but being actuated to close'contact b" uponenergizing of relay R,. As shown, the normally closed contact b of relaycontacts RC is interposed in series witha microswitch SW, and'a pressuresensitive switch SW in a cir- 'cuit extending to device 78 so as topermit thelatter to actuate vending switch SW, for initiating theoperation of machine 10 positions shown to close their contactsa. Asindicated on FIGS. 2 and 3, switch SW, is suitably mounted, for exampleon the bracket 33, so as to be engaged by the belt 23 in guide 25 i inadvance of rest station 8,. Such engagement of belt 23 with switch SW,urges the latter to close its contact a so long as a belt is present.liowever, when the end of thebelt carrying balloons to bevended.or;.dispe'nsed moves pastswitch.SW;,, the latter is released toopen its contact a and to close its con} tact b which is in series witha lamp L, for energizing the latter. and thereby indicating that thesupplyIof balloons in the. ,machine 10 has been exhausted. The pressureresponsive switch SW, may be connected to. the outlet of heliumcontaining bottle 75, as shown on FIG. 7, so as to close its contact aonly so long as there is an adequate pressure of heliumin bottle 75.However, when the supply of helium in bottle 75 nears exhaustion, with aresultant fall in thepressurethereof, switch SW, opens its contact a andcloses itsjcontact b which is also connected in series with the lamp L,to again indicate that the Y machine 10 is not in condition to dispenseorvend an inflated.

- balloon. Thus, when either the supply of balloons or the supply ofhelium in machine 10 has been exhausted, lamp L,

.will be illuminatedlto'indicate such conditiomand device 78 of coinselector. 77 will prevent actuation of vending switch SW, thereof andfurther, as is conventional, will cause the:

return of a coinor coins that have been deposited.

The sequence and periodsof energization of solenoid valves SV,. SV,,SV,, and SV, are determined by a conventionaL, commercially available,timer 79 having a normally closed switch CS, and normally open switchesC8,, C8,, CS,.and CS,

which are adapted to be actuated 'byrespective cams (not' shown) drivensimultaneously by amotor M, through a clutch C when such clutchisenergized simultaneously with'the motor. Thenormally closed cam operatedswitch CS, is shown'to only in the event that switches SW, and SW,areboth in the be connected in series with relay R, and with theparallel con-1 nected contact b of vending switch SW, and contact b"' ofrelay contact RC which provides a hold contact for relay-R Thus, uponthe momentary actuation of vending switch SW,

to close its contact b, relay R, is energized to move its contact RC tothe position b and thereby establish a circuit through the latter forcontinuing the energization of relay R, so long as. cam operated switchCS, remains in its normally closed posi- 7 tion. Theenergizing of relayR, also closes its contactRC,

which is connected in series with relayR, and with contact a t 1 ofvending switch SW, to which the latter returns after its mementaryactuation thereby to energize relay R, so long as relay R, remainsenergized. A lamp L, is connected in parallel with. relay R, so as tobeenergized-simultaneously with the latter during each vending cycle,and such lamp L, may besuitably mounted in a wall of compartment 13 forilluminating the interior ofthe latter. f

The energizing of relay R, closes its contact RC,,, which is in serieswith the timer motor M, so as to energize the latter and also the clutchC connected in parallel with motor M,,

furtherbe seen that the closing of relay contact RC,,,supplies power'tothe normally open cam operated switches C8,, C8,, CS,.and CS, whicharerespectivelyconnected in series with the coilsof-solenoid valves SV,,SV,,SV, and SV,.

' Since the cam operated switches CS,, CS,, CS, andCS, are all open atthe initiation of eachvendingcycle, the associated solenoid valvesareall deenergized so that solenoid valves SV,

and SV, block the supplying of compressed air to cylinders 50 and 40,respectively, and vent the same to atmosphere, and solenoid valves SV,and SV, respectively block thesupplying of compressed air andheliumunder pressure'to noule 31. Under the foregoing-conditions,spring 56is'ett'ective to hold carriage 3 7 in the position shown on FIG. 2 atwhich nozzle 31 is located at rest station S, and ejectingrnember 59 islocated I at inflating station 8,, whilespring 48 is effective to movenozballoon B at the rest station, while ejecting member 59 is projectedthrough the belt opening 24 at inflating station 8,.

Upon'operation of timermotor M, and engaging of the clutch C'to effectrotation .of r the camsin timer 79, cam

operated switch CS, is closed by the associated cam to energize solenoidvalve SV, and thereby permit the ,flow of compressed air therethrough,to cylinder 50 for extending the piston rod 52 of the latter. Suchextension of the piston rod 52 causes movement of carriage 37 toward theright from the position shown on FIG. 2 soas to move nozzle 31 from reststation S, to inflating station.;S,. During such movement of nozzle 31,that is, during its indexing stroke, cam operated switch CS, remains inits open'condition, that-is, solenoid valve SV, continues'to bedeenergized, so that spring 48 retains nozzle 31in its active positionwhere it engages the valve of a balloon 8 held in a belt opening 24.Such engagement of nozzle 31 witha balloon .valve and the correspondingengagement of ejecting member s in a belt opening ensures that thebelt23 will be moved along'withcarriage37 during the indexing stroke ofnozzle 31 so as'to bring the balloon engaged by the latter to inflatingstations, where such balloon depends from the belt through opening 30 inthe topof compartment 13.

Upon completionof the indexing stroke,.cam operated switch CS, is closedfor a predetermined period, for example, for a duration of 2.0 seconds,'during which time solenoid valve SV, is energized to permit compressedair to flow therethrough into conduit forcommencing the inflation of theballoon having its valve engagedby nozzle 31. At the completion of theforegoing period,.cam operated switch CS, is opened to halt thesupplying of compressed air to conduit 70 V and cam operated switch CS,is closed to energizesolenoid valve 'SV, for a predetermined period, forexample, fora dura tion of 2.0 to 3.0 seconds, during' which time heliumunder pressure is supplied from bottle through conduit70 for continuingthe inflation of the balloonhaving its valve engaged by nozzle 31 attheinflating station. At the completion of the period during whichv heliumis supplied to nozzle 31, V

cam operated switch CS, returns to its normally open position,

, and cam operated switch CS, is again closed for a predeterminedperiod, for example, having a duration of 5.0 seconds,

during which time the inflation'oftheballoon is completed withcompressed air and conduit 70is purged of helium for avoiding waste ofsuch relativelycostly gas. 1

" upon the completion of the inflating of a balloon withincompartment-13, cam operated switch CS, again is returned to itsnormally open position to halt the supplying of compressed air to nozzle31 and cam operated switch CS, is closed to energize solenoid valve SV,for supplying compressed air through the latter to cylinder 40. Thesupplying of compressed air to cylinder 40 causes retraction of itspiston rod 42',

whereby the rotation of the .cams for-actuating, theseveraL.

switches'of timer 79 is initiated. Energizing of relayR,alsowherebynozzle 31 is raised to its retracted'position out ofengagement with the valve V ofthe fully inflated balloon at inflatingstation S, and ejecting member 59 is similarly raised so "zle 31 to itsactive position where it engages the valve V of the as to be spacedabove belt 23, as shown on FIG. 3. While cam operated switch CS,-,remains closed to retain nozzle 31 in its raised or retracted position.cam operated switch CS is opened to deenergize solenoid valve SV,,thereby halting the supplying of compressed air to cylinder 50 andpermitting spring 56 to retract piston rod 52 and thereby effect thereturn stroke of nozzle 31 from inflating station S to rest station S Atthe conclusion of such return stroke. ejecting member 59 is positionedabove the valve of the inflated balloon retained in the belt opening 24at inflating station S and nozzle 31 is disposed above the valve of thenext uninflated balloon carried by the belt. At the completion of thereturn stroke of nozzle 31. cam operated switch CS; is opened todeenergize solenoid valve 8V for halting the supplying of compressedairto cylinder 40 and permitting spring 48 to effect the movement of nozzle31 to its active position for engaging the valve V of the uninflatedballoon B at rest station 5 and the movement of ejecting member 59through the belt opening at inflating station 5,. whereby to eject theinflated balloon downwardly from such belt opening. Finally, camoperated switch CS is momentarily opened to interrupt the holdingcircuit of relay R so that the latter is deenergized to return itscontacts to the positions shown on FIG. 8 with the result that relay Rand lamp L are both 'deenergized. Such deenergizing of relay R2 opensthe contacts of the latter and thereby deenergizes motor M and clutch Cof timer 79 and also motor M of compressor 62. Thus, at the completionofa vending cycle. the electrical control circuits are restored to theirinitial conditions so as to be ready for the initiation ofa new vendingcycle.

As shown particularly on FIG. 4, the opening 30 in the top wall 26 ofcompartment 13 is preferably elongated in the direction of the indexingstroke of nozzle 31 so that. when a balloon is transported by theindexing movement of belt 23 over top wall 26 so as to move from reststation 5 to inflating station S,, the trailing end portion of suchballoon will be able to drop through opening 30 and depend freelythrough the latter from belt 23 when it reaches the inflating station.However, with such elongated opening 30 it might be possible. prior tothe commencement of a vending cycle. to reach upwardly from compartment13 through opening 30 and to pilfer the balloon from the belt openingdisposed at rest station 5,. In order to avoid such pilfering ofballoons. machine further preferably includes a door 80 for closing asubstantial part of the elongated opening or aperture 30 which extendstoward the rest station S and which is moved to an open position forleaving the aperture 30 completely unobstructed simultaneously with theindexing stroke of nozzle 31.

In the embodiment shown. door 80 is pivotally mounted, as by a pivot pin81, for swinging in a horizontal plane above top wall 26 of compartment13 between the open position. shown in full lines on FIG. 4. where thedoor is disposed in back of elongated opening 30, and a closed position.as indicated in broken lines at 80' on FIG. 4. where the door coversapproximately that half of the elongated aperture 30 directed toward therest station and leaves open a portion of aperture 30 underlyinginflating station 8, so that a balloon inflated at the latter stationcan continue to project through aperture 30 into compartment 13 evenwhen door 80 is moved to its closed position 80'. The pivot pin 81 formounting door 80 may be carried by a bracket 82 which depends fromchannel member 28!) of guide (FIGS. 4 and 5). and a cam-like arrangementmay be provided for moving door 80 between its open and closed positionsin-response to the movements of carriage 37 for effecting the indexingand return strokes of nozzle 31. In the embodiment shown, such cam-likearrangement for effecting movements of door 80 may include a cam 83carried by an arm 84 depending from carriage 37 for movement therewith,such cam 83 having a suitably shaped cam slot 85 which slidably receivesa cam follower pin 86 projecting upwardly from door 80. When carriage 37is in the position shown on FIG. 2, the engagement of pin 86 in cam slot85 causes door 80 to be disposed at its closed position 80'. However,during movement of carriage 37 from the position of FIG. 2 to that shownon FIG. 3, the movement of cam 83 with carriage 37 and the engagement ofpin 86 in cam slot causes swinging of door 80 to its open position shownon FIG. 3 and in full lines on FIG. 4. In order to further protectagainst pilfering of a balloon at the rest station S when door 80 is inits closed position, such door may be formed with an upwardly directedflange 8'. extending almost to guide 25 at the side of that portion ofaperture 30 which remains unobstructed with the door in its closedposition.

A further feature of the machine 10 according to this invention is theprovision thereof with a device 88 by which belt 23. after the inflationand removal of the balloons therefrom. is cut or severed into sectionsthat can be compactly stored within cabinet 11 and readily disposed ofwhen the machine is serviced to replenish the supply of balloons and ofhelium therein. As shown particularly on FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. such device88 of the illustrated embodiment may include a blade 89 pivoted at 90 ona support 91 carried by bracket 34 so as to be movable in a verticalplane adjacent the exit end of guide 25 and being adapted, incooperation with a fixed blade or anvil 92 disposed under the beltprojecting from the exit end of guide 25, to cut or shear suchprojecting end portion of the belt from the remainder of the latter. Themovements of blade 89 may be effected by a cylinder 93 mountedvertically on support 91 and having a piston 94 reciprocable thereinwith a piston rod 95 extending downwardly from cylinder 93 and having aclevis 96 at its lower end that is connected to blade 89 by means of apin 97 engaging in a slotted opening 98 provided in the blade (FIG. 6 i.A spring 99 is provided, for example. acting upwardly on piston 94within cylinder 93 (FIG. 2), so as to normally urge blade 89 to itsraised position above the path of travel of belt 23 out of the exit endof guide 25. However. when fluid under pressure. preferably compressedair, is supplied to the upper end ofeylinder 93. as through a conduit100. the force of spring 99 is overcome by the action of the compressedair on piston 94 and blade 89 is moved downwardly past fixed blade oranvil 92 so as to shear off the projecting end portion of the belt.

As shown particularly on FIG. 7. the conduit 100 for supplyingcompressed air to cylinder 93 may branch off from the conduit 49 forsupplying compressed air to cylinder 40 so that compressed air issupplied to cylinder 93 for effecting the cutting action simultaneouslywith the upward movement of nozzle 31 to its retracted positionimmediately before the return stroke of nozzle 31. It will also beapparent that, when nozzle 31 is restored to its active position uponreturn to rest station S the supplying of compressed air to cylinder 31is also interrupted to permit spring 99 to return blade 89 to its raisedor inoperative position.

It will be appreciated that, during each indexing movement of belt 23 anend portion thereof equivalent in length to the distance betweenadjacent belt openings 24 will be projected out of the exit end ofguide25 and. upon the completion of inflation of a balloon at inflatingstation 5,, device 88 is operated to sever the projecting end portion ofthe belt from the remainder of the latter. A receptacle 101 may beremovably mounted within cabinet 11 under device 88 (FIG. 1) to catchthe severed sections of the belt and to compactly storesuch severedsections during the period between successive servicings of the machine.

Preferably. as shown on FIG. 2, the cutting plane of blade 89 is locatedso as to laterally intersect an opening 24 of belt 23 when an endportion of the latter is projected from guide 25, whereby to minimizethe lateral width of the plastic material that has to be cut through.The cutting operation may be further facilitated by providing blade 89with a cutting edge having sections 102a and 102b that inclinedownwardly toward the center of the blade so that, during the cuttingstroke of the latter, the cutting action proceeds from the center ofbelt 23 toward the opposite longitudinal edges of the latter.

When each inflated balloon is separated from belt 23. as describedabove, there is the danger that the balloon will roll along top wall 26of compartment 13 and escape from the latter through the open frontbefore the purchaser can grasp l the balloon. In order to avoid theforegoing. a fingerilllllf (FIGSJ and is inclined downwardly andforwardly from top wall 26 adjacent the open front of compartment 13whereby to arrest the rolling action of the balloon on top wall26..Thus. when theinflatedtballoon is to be removed from compartment.13. the balloon is grasped within the latter and moved downwardly'belowfinger 103 so as'to clear the latter during its removal.

, directions toward and away fromsaid path relative to a car-- Althougha particular embodiment of thisinvention has been described in detailherein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment.and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by;one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spiritof theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim: f a

1. In a machine for vending inflated balloons from a flexible member to.control said conveying belt having openings uniformly spaced apartalong the belt to receive andfrictionally retain therein the necks ofuninflated balloons each having a checkvalve in the respective neck: thecombination of i Y means to guide said belt in a path extending past aninflating station; an inflating nozzle mounted for movement paththroughan indexing stroke by which said nozzle is moved to saidinflating station from a'rest station which is in advance of saidinflating station by substantially the a distance between adjacentopenings in thebelt and through a return stroke by which said nozzle isreturned to said rest station. and also for movement of said nozzle y indirections toward and away from said path between active and retractedpositions at which said nozzle is engageable with the check valve of aballoon retamedin an opening of the belt and said nozzleis substantiallspaced from the belt. respectively;

means to supply gas under pressure to said nozzle for inflating aballoon having its check valve engaged by said noz- 5. A machineaccording to claim 2. further comprising cutting means acting on thebelt from which balloons have been separated to cut the belt intoreadily disposable sections.

6. A machine according to claim 1. in which said nozzle is carried by asupport member which: is movable in said riage which transports saidsupportmember in movements with said carriage parallel to said path. andin which said causes movement of said support member relative to saidcarriage to displace said nozzle from said active position to saidretracted position.

parallel to said zle when the latter is in said active position at saidinflat ing station; and 1 movement controlling means operative to effectsaid indexa ing stroke with said nozzle in said active position so thatthe belt is carried along in an indexing movement by engagement of thenozzle with the check valve of the foremost balloon in the. belt.thereby to dispose that foremost balloon at said inflating station. and;after a period of dwell of said nozzleat theinflating station duringwhich the engaged'balloon is inflated. to effect said return stroke withsaid nozzle in said retracted position.

whereupon said nozzle is restored to said active position for engagementwith the check valve of the balloon then at said rest station. 2. Amachine according to claim 1. further comprising means operative uponretui'n of said inflating nozzle to said rest station to effectseparation from'the belt of the'previously inflated balloon at saidinflating station.

3. A machine according to claim 2, in which said means operative toeffect separation of the previously inflated bal icon from the beltincludes an e ecting member moved to said inflating station upon saidreturn strokeof the nozzle to said rest stationand being extendedthrough the belt opening at. said inflating stationupon restoration ofsaid nozzle to saidac tive position at said rest station whereby saidejecting member acts on the check valve of the previously inflatedballoon to eject the latter from the related belt opening.

4. A machine according to claim 3, in which said ejecting 8.Amachineaccording to claim further comprising an ejecting member alsocarried by said support member so as to be movable as a unit with saidnozzle. said ejecting member v being located relative to said nozzle soas to be moved to said inflating station upon said return stroke of thenozzle to said rest station and to extend through the belt opening atsaid inflating station upon restoration of said nozzle to said activeposition at saidvrest station. whereby said ejecting member acts on thecheck valve of the previously inflated balloon to eject the latter fromthe related belt opening at the completion of said return stroke and.during said indexing stroke. the engagement of said ejecting member inthe belt opening in advance of the balloon being moved to said inflatingstation assists in said indexing movement of the belt.

9. Amachine according to claim I, in which said path of the belt extendsacross the top of a compartment which is defined within a cabinet andopens at the front of the latter. said compartment top having anaperture through which successive balloons carried by the belt tosaidinflating station can depend into-said compartment for inflationwithin the latter. a door normally closing a substantial part of saidaperture to prevent pilfering through said aperture of a balloon carriedby the belt at said rest station. and means to open said doorsimultaneously with saidindexing stroke.

l0. A machine according to claim 9, in which said means to open the doorincludes cam means movable with said nozzle parallel to said path.

ll. In a machine for vending inflaied balloons from a flexi-.

ble conveying belt having openingsmniformly spaced apart along the beltto receive. and frictionally retain therein the member is connected withsaid nozzle to move as a unit with the latter so that during said.indexingstroke said ejecting member engages in the belt openingimmediately in advance of the foremost balloon carried by the belt toassist in effecting said indexing movement of the belt.

necks of uninflated balloons each having a check valve in the respectiveneck: the combination of means to guide said belt in a path extendingpast an inflating station;

' an inflating nozzle and an ejecting lmember spaced apart in thedirection of said path by a distance substantially equal to the distancebetween adjacent openings of the belt;

means mounting said nozzle. and said ejectingmember for movement as aunit parallel to said path through an indexing stroke by which saidnozzle is moved to said inflating station from a rest station in advanceof said inflating station by substantiallysaid distance and through areturn stroke by which said nozzle is returned to said rest station andsaid ejecting member ismoved to said inflating station. and also formovement as a unit in directions toward and away from said path betweenactive and retracted positions at which said nozzle: is engageable withthe check valve of a balloon retained in said belt and said ejectingmember extends through an opening of the belt and at which said nozzleand ejecting member are substantially spaced from the belt,respectively;

movementfbetween active and means to supply gas under pressure to saidnozzle for inflating a balloon having its check valve engaged therebywhen said nozzle is in said active position at said inflating station;and movement controlling means operative to effect said indexing strokefor moving said nozzle to said inflating station and, after a period ofdwell of the nozzle at said inflating station. to effect said returnstroke of said nozzle and ejecting member. to retain said nozzle andejecting member in said active position during said indexing stroke andduring a substantial portion of said period of dwell so that the belt iscarried along in an indexing movement by said nozzle and ejecting memberduring said indexing stroke to dispose the foremost balloon carried bythe belt at said inflating station for inflation by said gas supplied tosaid nozzle during said period of dwell, to move said nozzle andejecting member to said retracted position during said return strokethereof. and to restore said nozzle and ejecting member to said activeposition upon completion of said return stroke thereof whereby theextension of said ejecting member through the belt opening located atthe inflating station causes the ejecting member to act on the checkvalve of the previously inflated balloon so as to separate the latterfrom the belt. 12. A machine according to claim 11. further comprisingmeans disposed adjacent said path beyond said inflating stationconsidered in the direction of said indexing movement and beingoperative to sever said belt into readily disposable sections followingthe separation of balloons therefrom.

13. A machine according to claim 11 in which said means mounting saidnozzle and ejecting member includes a support yoke to which said nozzleand ejecting member are fixed, a carriage carrying said yoke andpermitting movement of the latter relative to said carriage in saiddirections toward and away from said path and means supporting saidcarriage for movement of the latter parallel to said path, and in whichsaid movement controlling means includes first fluid pressure actuatedmeans connected with said carriage to control said indexing and returnstrokes and second fluid pressure actuated means connected between saidcarriage and said support yoke to control said movement between activeand retracted positions.

14. A machine according to claim 13. in which said path of the beltextends across the top of a compartment which is defined within acabinet and opens at the front of the latter. said compartment tophaving an aperture through which successive balloons carried by the beltto said inflating station can depend into said compartment for inflationwithin the latter, a door normally closing a substantial part of saidaperture to prevent pilfering through said aperture of a balloon carriedby the belt at said rest station. and means to open said doorsimultaneously with said indexing stroke.

15. A machine according to claim 14, in which said means to open thedoor includes cam means carried by said carriage to open the door inresponse to said indexing stroke and to close said door in response tosaid return stroke.

